COVID-19: As UK removes South Africa from Red list, travel bookings witness dramatic surge

South African travel ncies are witnessing a spike in bookings ahead of country being removed from UK's COVID Red list, according to a report by Associated Press. Many companies said that y were overwhelmed by number of South African residents demanding reservations to travel to and from Britain. Flight Centre, which is country's largest travel retailer, said that it was “struggling to cope” with astromical demand. 

“ minute anuncement came through we could see on our online booking tools as well as our email inquiries and telephone calls this morning that re was a big surge," Andrew Stark, Flight Centre Travel Group managing director, told AP.  “We see this as most source markets open up, following day we are inundated, we just cant keep up with demand, to be honest," he added labelling situation as ‘pretty maniac”. 

Meanwhile, Rosemary Anderson, chairwoman of hospitality association FEDHASA reckoned that she was also witnessing a skyrocketing surge in people who want to travel in and out of South Africa. One major reason for Britons to head to South Africa, she said, was wear. “We are going into summer, UK is going towards autumn and many British people have t been able to travel to sunny places, so that makes South Africa a great destination for m,” Anderson was quoted as saying by AP.

South Africa has seen a considerable fall in coronavirus caseload with 33,013 cases currently active in country. tably, British administration had attracted considerable flak for its decision to keep country in red list while lifting restrictions from ors. 

UK modifies Red List

British administration recently anunced that starting 11 October, number of countries in red list will be cut down from 54 to just 7. Major tourist destinations like South Africa, Brazil and Mexico would be removed from list. Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela continue in red list. Last month, UK simplified its travel rules by nixing amber list from its travel rules. 

(Im: AP)

(With inputs from AP )